Will Wearing Red Improve Your Interview Results?

I watched a show on the Discovery Channelcalled Head Games. The episode was Seeing is Believing. One of the pieces dealt with a woman wearing a white dress while asking for a single $1. Most people ignored her or made excuses, though a few would give her the $1. Then they dressed her in the same dress only this time it was the color red. The difference in the behavior from others was amazing. Not only were they willing to give her money, many asked her if she needed more. By the way, both dresses were nice and she was well groomed. She was posed as someone who had left her purse in her office and she wanted some water. They exhibited the power of red in a couple of other examples, even to the point that a few guys carried her across the street if she was wearing the red dress. This made me wonder about the impact of red in a job interview. Will wearing red improve your interview results?

Research Results

There have been numerous studies that have looked at the impact of color in various situations. They have found that men find women dressed in red to be more attractive. This was demonstrated in the show I watched. Conversely, studies have also found that women find men who wear red to be more attractiveas well. According to this latter study the effects were limited to status and romance. Women judged a man dressed in red to be of higher status and to be more sexually attractive. Interestingly it should this did not have an impact on the subject’s likeability. Men were not affected by men who wear red, but women found women who red to be more attractive.

“Colors convey meaning and emotion. Red means luck in Chinese, and red and black are power colors, said Legatos. They may work for an executive or contract negotiators’ job. But if you’re interviewing for an administrative assistant job at a nonprofit, you may be better off in a less bold color – blue or brown or something more neutral. White – as in a shirt or blouse- suggests clean, purity, honesty. People do have these subconscious reactions to the colors you’re wearing.”

She goes on to give advice on what you should consider in choosing your interview outfit, such as situation, audience and position.

But will RED help?

A red tie (remember those?) was long known to be the “power” tie. Given the reaction people have to the color red I thought of a few questions to ask you readers:

If you are interviewing with a member of the opposite sex will you have a competitive advantage if you are in red?

Conversely, if you are interviewing with a same-sex interviewer would you be better off not wearing red?

Will wearing red make an “average” looking person more attractive than if they were in another color?

In answering these questions you may want to pooh-pooh these questions and say that rational people do not make decisions on these bases. However, you would be wrong. People do make unconscious decisions all the time based on their unconscious perceptions. The science is really pretty amazing.

Let’s do a poll

I did not find any research on the power of red in an interview, albeit my search was limited. So I wanted to ask you if you have ever noticed in your personal experience this type of effect? Have you ever been treated differently based on the color of your clothes?

Perhaps there is a scientific study in this for some academic or student that might read this. If you do it, let me know about.

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I have had the experience of being offered two different jobs when wearing the same outfit. The outfit combined a black dress with a fushia blazer (perhaps the new red?). For a while I considered it my lucky blazer. Seriously though, I think your choice of clothes for an interview reflects your inner confidence level. If you feel good about yourself and your qualifications for the job you are being interviewed for that will show in your choice of clothes.

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About Mike Haberman

I have been in human resources for over 30 years, both as a practitioner and consultant. I am known as "THE HR COMPLIANCE GUY" and as an HR Futurist. I was named an "Influencer" to IBM's New Way to Work panel.

I co-founded Omega HR Solutions in late 2000, beginning operations January 2001. I am a senior HR consultant. I am also an instructor at the University of Georgia School for Professional Education teaching human resources management. Additionally, I present numerous webinars on a monthly basis.

My blog has been published over 10 years and I write for two other sites as well, Workology (formerly Blogging4Jobs) and eSkill. I have been a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) for over 20 years and I have been certified as SHRM-SCP from day one.

With my background, knowledge and experience I help guide companies through compliance issues today and help them prepare for the world of work tomorrow.

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